The biggest mistake in the latest complaints against Judge Clarence Thomas

In the legal field, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has reasons to be satisfied. With the arrival of Donald Trump and the Republicans in the Senate, who added three new conservative justices to the Supreme Court, the right now dominates this institution, a situation not seen for several generations. This has led to the anticipated series of reactionary decisions, including the overturning of Roe v. Wade. However, despite the fact that Thomas is likely pleased with the trends in the judicial system, he is significantly less happy about the ethical allegations he has faced.

According to the Associated Press, at the latest court conference, Thomas told attendees that he and his wife have faced "troubles" and "lies" over the past few years, describing Washington as a "horrible place." This statement was made at a conference attended by judges, lawyers, and representatives of the judicial system of the 11th Circuit, which handles federal cases from Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. When Thomas was asked about a world that seems hostile, he shared his thoughts: "I think we are facing certain challenges. We are in a world, and certainly, my wife and I have encountered terrible malice and lies over the last two or three years; it's just unbelievable."

The New York Times report on the judge's comments mentions that these were some of the most significant public statements he has made since the revelations regarding his undisclosed luxury trips funded by wealthy conservatives, such as Harlan Crow, including flights on private jets and travels on a superyacht.It should be noted that Thomas has been facing serious ethical issues for several years, but his problems took a more serious turn in the spring of last year.A remarkable report by ProPublica, published in early April, revealed the extent of the generosity and unusual privileges that Thomas received from a Republican mega-donor.

In the following weeks and months, ProPublica continued to cover the unusual connections between Thomas and a wealthy friend, but it was not the only one. The Times also deepened its investigation, uncovering previously unreported benefits that the judge received from "a group of influential and wealthy acquaintances" linked to his membership in the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans.

Soon, ProPublica released another report showing that the situation had taken on even more alarming proportions.It was reported that Thomas received "at least 38 vacation trips, including a previously unreported yacht trip around the Bahamas, 26 flights on private jets, and an additional eight on helicopters, a dozen VIP passes to sporting events, as well as two overnight stays at luxury resorts in Florida and Jamaica."This was all sponsored by people who share an ideology that aligns with his legal practice. Although the exact cost of the trips is difficult to determine, ProPublica stated that it "likely amounts to millions of dollars."

The described situation is overly complicated to justify: Thomas lived as a wealthy man thanks to the generosity of his affluent friends.My colleague from MSNBC, Zeeshan Aleem, noted that "there's nothing particular about calling it what it is: it's a blatant, shameful abuse of power that undermines the legitimacy of the Supreme Court."The fact that Thomas reportedly accepted such gifts is quite concerning. Even more troubling is that he allegedly accepted them without disclosing information about the benefits received (with rare exceptions), which raises doubts about his understanding of the seriousness of the situation.

Earlier this year, there were repeated jokes about Thomas in the context of the corruption of the Supreme Court. In February, The Onion, a satirical outlet, published an article titled: "Clarence Thomas Announces 50% Off All Favorable Rulings." Throughout the events, the judge hardly spoke, relying on his political allies who provided unconvincing defense arguments.But last week, Thomas finally spoke up and stated that he had encountered "lies."

However, the question arises: what exactly is he talking about and what accusations should be refuted to the public? On one hand, we have numerous detailed, credible, and landmark reports written by respected journalists. On the other hand, there is a controversial Supreme Court judge who has multiple contradictions in his biography and hopes that the public will take his vague statements at face value, despite his lack of authority.

In reality, it's not that difficult to understand. This post updates the information on a previously conducted investigation.